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Difference between revisions of "Northern Gannet" - BirdForum Opus

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====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
Includes small fish, which it takes from a steep, high-speed dive.
 
Includes small fish, which it takes from a steep, high-speed dive.
 +
Diving from a height of around 30 metres or less,and hitting the water at anything up to 70mph,a lot of these birds go blind quite young,from diving into the water.
 +
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
They normally nest in large colonies, on cliffs overlooking the ocean or on small rocky islands.  
 
They normally nest in large colonies, on cliffs overlooking the ocean or on small rocky islands.  

Revision as of 18:51, 4 July 2009

Photo by rayh.
File:D07 1241.jpg
Photo by Gary Clark
Location: Cap Gaspe', Quebec, Canada.
Morus bassanus

Identification

L. 87-100cm
Ws. 165-180cm

Adult

  • White with black wingtips
  • Light blue bill
  • Bare, black skin around eye
  • During breeding, head and neck are brushed with pale yellow

Immature

Dark brown in their first year, and gradually acquire more white in subsequent seasons until they reach maturity after five years.

Distribution

North Atlantic.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Isolated stacks or remote islands, sometimes on mainland cliffs. At sea when not breeding, over continental shelf. Occasionally on large inland waters as a result of severe weather.

Behaviour

Diet

Includes small fish, which it takes from a steep, high-speed dive. Diving from a height of around 30 metres or less,and hitting the water at anything up to 70mph,a lot of these birds go blind quite young,from diving into the water.

Breeding

They normally nest in large colonies, on cliffs overlooking the ocean or on small rocky islands.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>06 - Sulidae- Northern Gannet.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

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